Chair of the Senator Environment and Energy Committee, Sen. Bob Smith, talks about the biggest environmental and energy issues facing
New Jersey and how he plans to work with the next Governor to overhaul NJ's environmental and energy policies.

Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senate Environment and Energy Committee Chair Bob Smith joined advocates at a State House news
conference to celebrate the passage of compromise legislation to expand the protection of open space in New Jersey.

Life is inherently risky. We know that if we engage in certain activities we increase our risk of injury or death, such as not wearing a seat belt, or bungee jumping. There are also risks that we face that we cannot avoid, such as risk of certain genetic diseases or being struck by lightning. Then there are activities we cannot avoid, but do increase our risk of disease, injury or death. Breathing in asbestos increases your risk of lung cancer. Asbestos is avoidable, but only if you know that you are being exposed. We all have the right to know what risks we face in our daily lives, so we can asses those risks, and decide for ourselves if we are willing to accept that risk. The extreme sports star knows the risk involved in motorcross, and accepts the risk for the financial reward, fun, and fame. A worker in a fertilizer plant has the right to know the risk of working directly with certain chemicals, to be able to make a similar decision. Communities have a right to know what contaminants are in the soil and water, because we all have the right to choose where we live.